Proper Putter Grip Techniques for Golf

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Quick Answer

• A proper putter grip is the bedrock of a consistent putting stroke, promoting stability and control.
• Key elements involve maintaining light grip pressure, neutral wrists, and keeping your hands close together on the grip.
• Experiment with different grip styles to discover what feels most natural and effective for your unique putting motion.

Who This is For

• Beginner golfers who are just starting out and want to build a strong foundation for their putting game.
• Intermediate golfers who are looking to improve their consistency on the greens and reduce those dreaded three-putts.
• Any golfer who feels their current putting grip is inconsistent, uncomfortable, or contributing to poor results on the course.

What to Check First: Your Putter Grip

• The Handshake Test: Grab your putter as if you were meeting a new acquaintance. The grip should feel natural and comfortable in your hands, not forced or awkward.
• Hand Proximity: Observe where your hands are positioned on the grip. For most golfers, keeping your hands close together, ideally touching or nearly touching, is crucial for a unified and controlled stroke.
• Wrist Position Check: Take a look at your wrists. They should be relatively flat and in a neutral position, aligning with your forearms. Avoid any excessive bending or cupping, as this can lead to a loss of control.
• Grip Pressure Assessment: This is a big one. Imagine you’re holding a tube of toothpaste. You want to hold it firmly enough so it doesn’t slip, but not so tightly that you squeeze all the paste out. Light pressure is your friend here.
• Alignment Confirmation: Before you even swing, ensure the putter face is square to your intended target line. A good grip helps facilitate this, but it’s always worth a double-check.

Step-by-Step Plan: How to Hold the Putter in Golf

1. Assume the Address Position:

• Action: Stand over the ball with your putter, focusing on your intended target line. Get comfortable and balanced.
• What to look for: A stable, athletic stance with your weight balanced evenly. Your posture should be relaxed, not stiff or hunched over. It’s about feeling connected to the ground and ready to move.
• Mistake to avoid: Slouching too much can lead to poor posture and an inconsistent stroke, while being overly rigid can create tension. Find that middle ground that feels natural and athletic.

2. Position Your Hands Together:

• Action: Bring your hands together on the grip of the putter.
• What to look for: Your hands should be touching or very close to touching. This creates a single unit, allowing your arms and shoulders to work together more effectively. For a conventional grip, your lead hand will be higher on the grip.
• Mistake to avoid: Spreading your hands too far apart on the grip significantly weakens your control over the putter head and can lead to independent hand movements, which is a recipe for inconsistency.

3. Form Your Grip:

• Action: Place your hands on the grip in a way that feels secure and allows for a smooth stroke. There are several popular variations, but the principle of connection remains.
• What to look for: For a conventional grip (right-handed golfer), the palm of your right hand should cover the thumb of your left hand. Your fingers should be relaxed and gently wrapped around the grip. The goal is for your hands to feel like they are working in unison.
• Mistake to avoid: Letting your hands feel disconnected or twisted. This can happen if your fingers are too tense or if the palms aren’t properly aligned, leading to a loss of feel and control through the stroke.

4. Apply Light Grip Pressure:

• Action: Gently squeeze the putter grip.
• What to look for: A relaxed hold. Think of holding a delicate flower or a baby bird – firm enough so it doesn’t fly away, but soft enough that you don’t crush it. You should feel the texture of the grip, not the tension in your hands.
• Mistake to avoid: Gripping the putter too tightly, often referred to as a “death grip.” This is a common pitfall that creates tension throughout your arms and shoulders, leading to a jerky stroke and a significant loss of feel and distance control.

5. Ensure Wrist Neutrality:

• Action: Check that your wrists are flat and in a neutral position, aligned with your forearms.
• What to look for: Your wrists should feel like a natural extension of your arms, not bent or angled excessively. This allows for a pendulum-like motion driven by the shoulders.
• Mistake to avoid: Excessive wrist hinge or cupping. This can cause the putter face to open or close unintentionally through the stroke, leading to off-line putts and inconsistent distance. Keeping your wrists stable is key to controlling the putter face.

6. Align the Putter Face:

• Action: With your grip established and your posture set, ensure the putter face is square to your intended target line.
• What to look for: The face of the putter should appear to be pointing directly at your line of putt. This is a fundamental setup element that a good grip helps to maintain.
• Mistake to avoid: Misaligning the putter face from the start. If the putter face isn’t square at address, you’ll be fighting to correct it during your stroke, leading to a lack of confidence and poor results.

7. Practice the Stroke:

• Action: Make a few practice strokes, focusing on the feel of your grip and the smooth motion.
• What to look for: A fluid, pendulum-like stroke driven by your shoulders. Your wrists should remain relatively quiet and stable. The feel of the putter head moving through the air should be smooth and controlled.
• Mistake to avoid: Trying to hit the ball too hard or using your hands and wrists independently to generate power. This will disrupt the rhythm and consistency you’ve worked to establish with your grip.

How to Hold the Putter in Golf: Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Gripping Too Tightly — Why it matters: This is probably the most common error. Excessive tension in your hands, wrists, and arms restricts your natural putting motion, leading to a jerky stroke and a significant loss of feel. You’re essentially fighting yourself before you even start. — Fix: Consciously relax your grip pressure. Think of holding the putter with just enough force to keep it from slipping. A good drill is to hold it so lightly you could almost drop it. Focus on a light, consistent hold throughout your stroke.

• Excessive Wrist Hinge or Manipulation — Why it matters: When you actively use your wrists to hinge or flick the putter, you introduce a major source of inconsistency. The putter face can open or close unpredictably through impact, making it incredibly difficult to control the direction and distance of your putts. — Fix: Focus on keeping your wrists relatively flat and quiet. The primary motion should come from the rotation of your shoulders and arms working as a unit. Imagine your wrists are locked in place, allowing the larger muscles to control the stroke.

• Hands Placed Too Far Apart — Why it matters: A wide separation between your hands on the grip reduces the stability and control you have over the putter head. It encourages independent movements of your hands, which can lead to a less consistent arc and an off-center strike. — Fix: Bring your hands closer together on the grip. For most golfers, this means your hands should be touching or nearly touching. This promotes a more unified stroke and better feel for the putter head.

• Improper Hand Placement and Alignment — Why it matters: If your hands aren’t positioned correctly relative to each other and the grip, it can lead to an off-center strike, inconsistent distance control, and an inability to square the putter face at impact. For example, if your dominant hand is too far over the top, it can lead to excessive wrist action. — Fix: Ensure your hands are working together as a unit. For a conventional grip, the palm of your lower hand should cover the thumb of your upper hand, creating a stable connection. Experiment with slight adjustments to find what feels most natural and allows you to square the face.

• “Hogging” the Grip — Why it matters: This is similar to gripping too tightly, but it specifically refers to taking up too much of the grip with your hands, leaving little room for a smooth stroke. It can lead to a feeling of being choked by the club. — Fix: Leave a little space at the top of the grip. Most golfers don’t need to use the entire length of the grip. This allows for a more natural arm swing and prevents you from feeling too restricted.

• Inconsistent Grip Pressure Between Strokes — Why it matters: Even if you start with light pressure, if it fluctuates during your backswing, downswing, or impact, your stroke will become inconsistent. This can happen when you get nervous or try to “hit” at the ball. — Fix: Practice maintaining consistent, light grip pressure throughout the entire putting stroke. Focus on feeling the same light hold from the start of your backswing to the follow-through.

• Ignoring Different Grip Styles — Why it matters: While the conventional grip is common, it might not be the best fit for everyone. Sticking rigidly to one style without considering alternatives can prevent you from finding a grip that truly maximizes your stability and control. — Fix: Be open to trying different putter grip techniques. The reverse overlap, cross-handed (left-hand low), and claw grips are all popular for a reason – they can promote a more stable stroke for many golfers. Experiment to see what feels most comfortable and effective for you.

FAQ

• What is the most common putter grip?

The conventional overlap grip, where the pinky finger of your trailing hand rests in the space between the index and middle finger of your lead hand, is very common. However, the reverse overlap (where the lead hand’s index finger drapes over the trailing hand) and the cross-handed (or left-hand low) grip are also widely used and often recommended for promoting stability by reducing independent wrist action.

• Should my hands be close together or far apart on the putter?

For the vast majority of golfers, having your hands close together on the grip, ideally touching or nearly touching, promotes better control and a more unified, consistent stroke. This minimizes the tendency for your hands to work independently, which can lead to inconsistencies.

• How much pressure should I apply when holding the putter?

You should apply very light pressure. Think of holding a delicate object without crushing it – firm enough to keep it secure, but relaxed enough to allow for a smooth, fluid stroke. Excessive pressure creates tension in your arms and shoulders, hindering your feel and control. Aim for a pressure level of about 2 or 3 on a scale of 1 to 10.

• Does it matter which hand is on top?

For right-handed golfers, the conventional setup is the left hand on top (lead hand), and for left-handed golfers, it’s the right hand on top. However, many golfers find success with the reverse overlap or cross-handed grip, which effectively switches which hand is on top for increased stability. The key is what feels most stable and allows for a controlled stroke, not necessarily adhering to a traditional setup.

• How do I know if my putter grip is correct?

A correct grip should feel comfortable and natural, allowing for a smooth, tension-free putting stroke. You should be able to maintain a consistent, light grip pressure throughout the swing. Crucially, it should help you keep your wrists relatively stable and square the putter face to your intended line at impact. If you experience tension, erratic putter face movement, or inconsistent results, it’s a strong indicator that your grip needs adjustment.

• What is the “claw” grip, and should I try it?

The “claw” grip, or sometimes called the “pencil grip,” is a variation where the index finger of your lead hand rests down the side of the grip, almost like a claw. The trailing hand is placed more normally. This grip is designed to help golfers keep their wrists from breaking down and promote a more stable, shoulder-driven stroke. It’s worth experimenting with if you struggle with wrist manipulation or inconsistent putter face control.

• How often should I check my putter grip?

It’s a good idea to check your putter grip periodically, especially if you notice a dip in your putting performance or feel any unusual tension. Before each round, take a moment to assess your grip pressure, hand position, and wrist alignment. If you’ve been playing a lot or your grip has been exposed to moisture, it’s also wise to check for wear and tear.

Sources:

• Proper Putter Grip Techniques
• Proper Putter Grip Techniques for Better Putting